IS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNONE).
ECRET.
.D.0. No. 195.
COPY Fo
330
COMMITTEE OF IMPERIAL DEFENCE,
OVERSEA DEVENOR COLMITTER,
OILINA.
Alberta Pa
PIRACY IN BIAS BAY.
(Note by the Secretary).
The Colonial Office have referred to the Overnea Defence Committeo for consideration a despatch, dated 30th June, 1926, from the Governor of Hong Kong containing certain proposals for dealing with piracy in Bias Bay.
The approval of all Departments concerned is requested by the Governor.
The Governor's despatch, with four onclosures, is roproduced in Appondix 1.
2. It will be noted that the moasuros proposed by the Governor go much further than Admiralty standing instructions for the suppression of piracy in Chinese vators, and partako of the naturo of a minor punitivo expedition.
The prosent Admiralty instructions aro summarizod in Enclosure No. 3 to Appondix I.
In paragraph 4 of this Enclosure the Commodoro, Hong Kong, suggests tho employment of naval aircraft for dropping incendiary bombs on condition that a roquest for such action is recoivod from the Pokin or Canton authorities, and provided that a number of Chineso officials and troops wore present during the operation,
It is difficult to ace how succece could be achiovod if such arrangomonts vero made, as prompt action would appear to bo the essence of the Governor's sohome.
3. Appendix IT contains a further despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong, datod 98th August, 1926, reporting two further piräcios at Blas Bay, and again urging that approval should be given to the recommendations in his previous despatch,
4. In Appondix III is a telogram, dated 6th October, 1926, from the Govornor roporting another piracy.
It will be noted that in this tologram tho Governor statod that the pirates probably scatterod at once amongst the villages and seaplano roconnaissanco fail to locate
then.
5. Appondi IV contains a telogram from Polin containing the viowe of the Acting Congul-Genoral, Canton. The latter suggoste that the proposals in Appendix I if carried out might rosult in a chargo of barbarous troatmont to innocent villagore, and auggeets as an altornative that Bias Bay should bo occupied by a small garrison, Canton at the Bane time being given a public undertaking that the garrison will be withdrawn as soon as it is replaced by Chinese troops, If this is not feasible the Acting Conqul-enoral considors that the Hong Kong scheme is better than talting no action at all.